Radiotelephone with handset talking function and hand-free talking function

• US 5,379,338 A
• Filed: 10/01/1992
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Koki, Ito, Koichi, Umemoto, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US07/955,263
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 379/56, 379/58, 379/61, 379/67, 379/88, 379/388, 379/420, 379/434, 379/59, 379/410, 379/406, 455/68, 455/70
• US Class Current: 455/570
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A radiotelephone of this invention comprises a sending-speech level varying circuit for varying the level of the sending-speech signal from the microphone and supplying the resulting signal and receiving-speech level varying means for varying the level of the receiving-speech signal demodulated by receiving means and supplying the resulting signal to the speaker, as well as a talking-mode setting section and a gain control circuit. At the talking-mode setting section, either the handset talking mode or the hand-free talking mode is set. At the gain control circuit, the gains of the sending-speech level varying circuit and receiving-speech level varying circuit undergo variable control according to the talking mode set by the talking-mode setting section. The gain control is carried out in such a manner that the gain becomes a first specific value when the handset talking mode has been set, and a second specific value larger than the first value when the hand-free talking mode has been set.

Claims

1. A hand-held radiotelephone connected via a radio channel to a base station, comprising:

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal from the microphone to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means, connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station;

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means, connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech mode to either handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode; and

control means for controlling variable level of said first level varying means and said second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means.

2. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises gain setting means for setting a gain of each of said first level varying means and said second level varying means to a first value when the handset speech mode is set by said speech-mode setting means, and for setting the gain of each of said first level varying means and said second level varying means to a second value larger than said first value when the hand-free speech mode is set by said speech-mode setting means.

3. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes a manual mode designation switch selectable between at least a first and a second state, and the handset speech mode is set when said manual mode designation switch is in the first state and the hand-free speech mode is set when the manual mode designation switch is in the second state.

4. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes grip sensing means for sensing whether or not said radiotelephone is held in a grip of a user'"'"'s hand, and the handset speech mode is set when the grip sensing means senses that said radiotelephone is held in the grip of the user'"'"'s hand and the hand-free speech mode is set when the grip sensing means senses that said radio telephone is not held in the grip of said user'"'"'s hand.

5. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes placement sensing means for sensing whether or not said radiotelephone is put on a surface, and the handset speech mode is set when the placement setting mode senses that said radiotelephone is not put on a surface, and the hand-free speech mode is set when the placement sensing means senses that said radiotelephone is put on a surface.

6. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes connection sensing means for sensing whether or not said radiotelephone is connected to a charging unit for charging a battery built in the radiotelephone, and the hand-free speech mode is set when the connection sensing means senses that the radiotelephone is connected to the charging unit, and the handset speech mode is set when the connection sensing means senses that the radiotelephone is not connected to the charging unit.

7. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means sets the speech mode to either the handset speech mode or the hand-free speech-mode according to a number of hook switch operations at a start of a speech communication.

8. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

9. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes speech mode display means for displaying the speech mode that is set.

10. A radiotelephone according to claim 3, wherein said speech-mode setting means further includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

11. A radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein said speech-mode setting means further includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

12. A radiotelephone according to claim 5, wherein said speech-mode setting means further includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

13. A radiotelephone according to claim 6, wherein said speech-mode setting means further includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

14. A radiotelephone according to claim 7, wherein said speech-mode setting means further includes duration sensing means for sensing a duration of operation of a hook switch during speech communication, and the speech mode is changed when the duration sensing means senses that the hook switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a specific period of time indicating the end of speech.

15. A radiotelephone system comprising:

a base station connected to a communication network via a wire channel; and

a hand-held radiotelephone connected to said base station via a radio channel;

wherein

said hand-held radiotelephone comprises;

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal from the microphone to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station;

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means, connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker, connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech-mode to either a handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode; and

control means for controlling a variable level of said first level varying means and said second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means; and

wherein a sending and receiving speech path including said hand-held radiotelephone and said base station is provided with an echo canceler for canceling an echo signal corresponding to an acoustic echo generated at least between the speaker and the microphone of said hand-held radiotelephone.

16. A radiotelephone system according to claim 15, wherein said echo canceler is provided in said base station.

17. A radiotelephone system according to claim 15, wherein said hand-held radiotelephone further comprises an echo canceler control for rendering said echo canceler operative when the hand-free speech-mode is set and rendering said echo canceler inoperation when the handset speech mode is set.

18. A hand-held radiotelephone connected to a base station via a radio channel, comprising:

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal from the microphone to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means, connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station;

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker, connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech mode to either a handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode;

switching means for selectively switching between at least a first state and a second state;

space-mode setting means for setting a using space mode to either a first space mode corresponding to a space in a car when said switching means is in the first state or a second space mode corresponding to a space larger than the space in a car when said switching means is in the second state; and

control means for controlling a variable level of said first level varying means and said second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means and the using space mode set by said space-mode setting means.

19. A radiotelephone according to claim 18, wherein said control means comprises gain setting means for:

setting a gain of each of said first level varying means and said second level varying means to a first value when the handset speech mode is set by said speech-mode setting means;

setting the gain of each of said first level varying means and said second level varying means to a second value larger than said first value when the hand-free speech mode is set by said speech-mode setting means and the second space mode is set by said space-mode setting means; and

setting the gain of each of said first level varying means and said second level varying means to a third value larger than said first value but smaller than said second value when the hand-free speech mode is set by said speech mode setting means and the first space mode is set by said space-mode setting means

20. A radiotelephone according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said speech-mode setting means includes a manual speech-mode designation switch selectable between at least first and second states, and the handset speech mode is set when the manual speech-mode designation switch is in the first state and the hand-free speech mode is set when the manual speech-mode designation switch is in the second state and, wherein said switching means includes a manual space-mode designation switch.

21. A radiotelephone according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said switching means includes a manual mode designation switch with three changeover positions and the handset speech-mode is set when the mode designation switch is placed in a first changeover position;

the hand-free speech mode and the first space mode are set when the manual mode designation switch is placed in a second changeover position; and

the hand-free speech mode and the second space mode are set when the manual mode designation switch is placed in a third changeover position.

22. A hand-held radiotelephone apparatus connected to a base station via a radio channel comprising:

a radiotelephone; and

a fixing member for detachably fixing said radiotelephone in a car to enable hand-free talking;

wherein

said radiotelephone comprises;

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal from the microphone to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means, connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station,

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker, connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech mode to either a handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode;

judging means for judging whether or not said radiotelephone is fixed by said fixing member;

space-mode setting means for setting a using space mode to a first space mode corresponding to a space in a car when the judging means has judged that the radiotelephone is fixed by said fixing member and setting the using space mode to a second space mode corresponding to, a space larger than the space in a car when said judging means has judged that said radiotelephone is not fixed by said fixing member; and

control means for controlling a variable level of said first level varying means and said second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means and the using space mode set by said space-mode setting means.

23. A radiotelephone apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said radiotelephone further comprises:

identifying means for identifying a first state in which said radiotelephone is fixed to said fixing member, a second state in which said radiotelephone is not fixed to said fixing member but put on a surface, and a third state in which said radiotelephone is neither fixed to said fixing member nor put on the surface, and

wherein said speech-mode setting means sets the handset speech mode when the identifying means identifies that the radiotelephone is in said third state;

sets the hand-free speech mode and said using space-mode setting means sets the second using space mode when the identifying means identifies that the radiotelephone is in said second state; and

sets the hand-free speech mode and said using space-mode setting means sets the first using space mode when the identifying means has determined that the radiotelephone is in said first state.

24. A radiotelephone system comprising:

a base station connected to a communication network via a wire channel; and

a hand-held radiotelephone apparatus connected to said base station via a radio channel;

wherein

said hand-held radiotelephone apparatus comprises a radiotelephone and a fixing member for detachably fixing the radiotelephone in a car to enable hand-free talking, said radiotelephone comprising;

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means, connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station;

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means, connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker, connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech mode to either a handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode;

judging means for judging whether or not said radiotelephone is fixed by said fixing member;

space-mode setting means for setting a using space mode to a first space mode corresponding to a space in a car when the judging means has judged that the radiotelephone is fixed by said fixing member, and setting the using space mode to a second space mode corresponding to a space larger than the space in a car when said judging means has judged that said radiotelephone is not fixed by said fixing member; and

control means for controlling a variable level of said first level varying means and second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means and the using space mode set by said space-mode setting means; and

wherein a sending and receiving speech path including said hand-held radiotelephone apparatus and said base station is provided with an echo canceler for canceling an echo signal corresponding to an acoustic echo generated at least between the speaker and microphone of said hand-held radiotelephone.

25. A radiotelephone system according to claim 24, wherein said echo canceler is provided in said base station.

26. A radiotelephone system according to claim 24, wherein said radiotelephone further comprises an echo canceler control for rendering said echo canceler operative when the hand-free speech mode is set and rendering said echo canceler inoperative when the handset speech mode is set.

27. A radiotelephone system comprising:

a base station connected to a communication network via a wire channel;

a hand-held radiotelephone connected to said base station via a radio channel, said hand-held radiotelephone comprising;

a microphone for producing a speech signal corresponding to a user'"'"'s utterance;

first level varying means, connected to said microphone, for varying the level of the speech signal from the microphone to produce a level-varied speech signal;

modulating and transmitting means connected to said first level varying means, for modulating a carrier signal according to the level-varied speech signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal via said radio channel to said base station;

receiving and demodulating means for receiving a carrier signal from said base station via said radio channel and demodulating the received carrier signal into a received speech signal;

second level varying means, connected to said receiving and demodulating means, for varying the level of the received speech signal to produce a level-varied received speech signal;

a speaker, connected to said second level varying means, for producing a voice signal corresponding to the level-varied received speech signal;

speech-mode setting means for setting a speech-mode to either a handset speech mode or a hand-free speech mode; and

control means for controlling a variable level of said first level varying means and said second level varying means according to the speech mode set by said speech-mode setting means; and

an echo canceler, provided in at least one of said hand-held radiotelephone and said base station, for canceling an echo signal corresponding to an acoustic echo generated at least between the speaker and the microphone of said hand-held radiotelephone.

28. A radiotelephone system according to claim 27, wherein said echo canceler is provided in said base unit.

29. A radiotelephone system according to claim 28, wherein said hand-held radiotelephone further comprises an echo canceler controller for rendering said echo canceler operative when the hand-free speech mode is set and for rendering said echo canceler inoperative when the handset speech mode is set.